Steven Pressman

For the economist (born 1952), see Steven Pressman (economist).
Steven Pressman

Steven Pressman (2010)
Born 1955
United States
Education University of California at Berkeley
Occupation Journalist, filmmaker
Known for Author, Outrageous Betrayal

Steven Pressman is an American legal journalist, freelance journalist, investigative journalist and biographer. He is the author of the biography of Werner Erhard, titled: Outrageous Betrayal, published by St. Martin's Press in 1993. In 2010, Pressman was involved in the production of a documentary film titled: To Save a Life, and served as writer, director, and producer.

Contents

Early life and education

Pressman was born in Los Angeles in 1955.[1] He obtained a Bachelor's Degree in political science in 1977 from the University of California at Berkeley.[1]

Career

Writing

Pressman has worked as a newspaper and magazine journalist in Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and San Francisco.[2] He wrote the biographical account of Werner Erhard: Outrageous Betrayal: The Dark Journey of Werner Erhard from est to Exile, published by St. Martin's Press in 1993.[3] He first began research for the book in 1991.[4] While engaged in researching the book, Pressman contributed writing to publications including California Lawyer, Legal Times, and The Daily Journal Corporation's California Republic – where he was senior editor.[1] Outrageous Betrayal received positive reception, from publications including Library Journal,[5] Booklist,[6] the Los Angeles Times,[7] Publishers Weekly,[8] and Westword.[9] It was cited as a reference in testimony before the United States House of Representatives, in 1995.[10]

He worked at San Francisco Daily Journal from 1995 to 1997.[4] In 1998, Landmark Education spent months in an unsuccessful attempt to compel Pressman to respond to deposition questions aimed at obtaining the confidential sources (used during research on Outrageous Betrayal) for use in the then-active litigation involving the Cult Awareness Network.[11] Throughout his journalism career he has written articles for several publications including California Lawyer,[12] Daily Journal of Los Angeles, California,[13] and the Columbia Journalism Review.[14] He contributed an article on libel law in 1994, for the United States Department of State.[15]

Filmmaking

Pressman produced short videos for the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, California.[16] In 2010, he served as writer, director, and producer for the documentary film To Save a Life.[16] The documentary tells the story of Gilbert and Eleanor Kraus, a Jewish couple from Philadelphia who traveled to Nazi Germany in 1939 and, with the help of the B'rith Sholom fraternal organization, saved 50 Jewish children in Vienna from likely death in the holocaust by finding them new homes in Philadelphia.[16][17]

Published works

Books

Articles

References

  1. ^ a b c Alexander, Judy (Attorneys for Defendant, Steven Pressman) (November 18, 1997). "Memorandum of Points and Authorities in Support of Motion to Strike Complaint". Landmark Education Corporation vs. Steven Pressman (San Francisco, California: Superior Court of the State of California, City and County of San Francisco). 
  2. ^ Pressman, Steven (1993). Outrageous Betrayal: The Dark Journey of Werner Erhard from est to Exile. New York: St. Martin's Press. pp. v, 277–279, back jacket. ISBN 0-312-09296-2. OCLC 27897209. 
  3. ^ OCLC 27897209
  4. ^ a b LaPlant, Carol (Attorney for Plaintiff, Landmark Education Corporation) (November 10, 1997). "Memorandum of Points and Authorities in Support of Motion for Order Compelling Answers to Deposition Questions, and for Sanctions". Landmark Education Corporation vs. Steven Pressman (San Francisco, California: Superior Court of the State of California, City and County of San Francisco). 
  5. ^ Annichiarico, Mark (September 1, 1993). "Outrageous Betrayal: The Dark Journey of Werner Erhard from Est to Exile.". Library Journal 118 (14): 207. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/0312092962. Retrieved 2007-11-20 
  6. ^ Carroll, Mary (September 1, 1993). "Pressman, Steven. Outrageous Betrayal: The Dark Journey of Werner Erhard from est to Exile.". Booklist (American Library Association) 90 (1): 7: Adult Books, Non-fiction, General Works, Philosophy & Psychology 
  7. ^ Halpern, Frances (October 14, 1993). "On Hope, Blacklisting and Rancho Mirage Trio of new titles offered by Barricade Books includes one by poet and novelist Aram Saroyan, a Thousand Oaks resident". Los Angeles Times: p. 9. "'Outrageous Betrayal,' a new and damning biography by Steven Pressman." 
  8. ^ Publishers Weekly staff (August 9, 1993). "Outrageous Betrayal, review". Publishers Weekly 240 (32): 446. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/0312092962. Retrieved 2007-11-20 
  9. ^ Jackson, Steve (April 18, 1996). "When it comes to Landmark Education Corporation, There's no meeting of the Minds". Westword. http://www.westword.com/1996-04-18/news/it-happens/full. 
  10. ^ United States Congress (1995). Department of Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations for 1996. Washington: U.S. G.P.O.. 834. ISBN 0-16-047352-7. http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Outrageous_Betrayal_by_Steven_Pressman_cited_in_testimony_before_United_States_House_of_Representatives?oldid=454606 
  11. ^ Skolnik, Peter L. & Norwick, Michael A. (February 2006). "Introduction to the Landmark Education litigation archive". Lowenstein Sandler PC (The Rick A. Ross Institute) 
  12. ^ Pressman, Steven (December 1994). "Litigation noir". California Lawyer. http://www.callawyer.com/story.cfm?pubdt=NaN&eid=23407&evid=1. Retrieved 2010-11-03. 
  13. ^ Pressman, Steven (April 21, 1994). "Church calls it quits - As Scientology backs away from critics, it may hurt in libel case". Daily Journal (Los Angeles, California). 
  14. ^ Pressman, Steven (February 1994). "Fouling Up Fair Use". Columbia Journalism Review (New York: Columbia University). 
  15. ^ Pressman, Steven (1994). "An Unfettered Press: Libel Law in the United States". InfoUSA (Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State). http://usinfo.org/enus/government/overview/libellaw.html. Retrieved 2010-11-03. 
  16. ^ a b c "The Filmmaking Team". ToSaveaLifeFilm.org (www.tosavealifefilm.org). 2010. http://www.tosavealifefilm.org/www.tosavealifefilm.org/The_Filmmakers.html. Retrieved 2010-11-03. 
  17. ^ Michael Elkin (July 15, 2010). "Stars of David". Jewish Exponent. http://www.jewishexponent.com/article/21530/Stars_of_David/. 

External links

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